Cape Cod Travel Essentials

• Cape Cod has a temperate climate with warm summers and very cold and snowy winters.
• The most rainfall can be seen in March and April with between 3.5 and 4 inches of rain. Similar amounts of snowfall can be seen in November and December.
• The warmest months of the year are June through August with averages in the low to high 70s.
• The best time to visit is May-June or September-October. These late spring and early fall months offer good temperatures, fewer crowds, and good room rates. July and August are the best beach months.

• Plug type: The plug type is the same standard 2- or 3-prong plug you'd find anywhere in the United States.
• Electricity: Electricity is the standard 120V current used across the U.S.
• Currency: The currency is the U.S. dollar.
• International dialing code: The international dialing code is +1, and the area codes are 508 and 774.
• Emergency telephone number: For emergencies, call 911.

Cape Cod can be reached by plane, train, or boat. You can also drive in or take a bus from nearby areas such as Boston or New York. This area is widely accessible, which is why it is such a popular vacation destination.

Airports

The primary airport in Cape Cod is Barnstable Municipal Airport. The region does not have a major international airport, though buses, taxis, and connecting flights from Boston's Logan Airport and New York's LaGuardia Airport offer an easy means of getting to town.

Major train stations

The Cape Flyer runs into Cape Cod from Boston. The trip takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes and is very affordable. Trains also offer a café car and free Wi-Fi. You can even bring pets and bikes on board.

Ports

Ferries come into Cape Cod from many nearby areas. Major ferry services include the Steamship Authority, Bay State Cruises, and Boston Harbor Cruises, along with ferries from Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, Edgartown, New Bedford, North Kingstown, and other nearby cities. It should be easy to find an affordable, high-speed ferry to get you to Cape Cod.

Travel tips

Cape Cod offers a wide variety of methods to get around and see the sights from car rentals to public transportation. The city does not offer a transit card; public transportation is paid for by the ride, but fees are low enough to make it a reliable way to get around, and you can buy day passes for the bus and shuttle service.

Taxi and rideshare apps: Rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft are available on Cape Cod and can be a reliable, if somewhat expensive, way to see the town. Formal taxi service isn't common on the Cape; you'll need to drive yourself or go for rideshare.

Bus network

The bus network is run by Cape Cod's Regional Transit Authority. This includes 6 bus routes that crisscross the region as well as seasonal shuttles that cover the Outer Cape. Bus service covers Falmouth, Provincetown, Herring Cove Beach, and North Truro.

Car rentals

Car rentals are generally considered to be the best way to get around the Cape and explore the many surrounding sites and towns at your leisure. The area is well-developed with safe highways, particularly Routes 6A and 28. The only downside to car rentals is that parking can be tough to find, and a bit costly. Most major car rental companies can be found scattered across the Cape.

Bicycle rentals

Bicycle rentals are available to allow you to explore the 114 miles of coastline bike paths. You can easily rent a bike to tackle it on your own or join a bike tour group. One must-see trail is the Cape Cod Rail Trail that spans 25 miles through several villages. You can also bring bikes aboard the CapeFLYER shuttles at no cost.

Provincetown International Film Festival

• When: June every year
• What: The film festival showcases the best up-and-coming independent filmmakers and honors acclaimed directors and producers. It attracts over 10,000 film buffs every year over 5 days.
• Where: Whalers Wharf in Provincetown

Provincetown Portuguese Festival

• When: Every June
• What: The Provincetown Portuguese Festival is a unique celebration of local Portuguese culture, dating back to the origins of the Cape. People travel from all over the world for the food, music, parades, games, and celebrations, much of which is free.
• Where: Along Portuguese Square in Provincetown

Yarmouth Seaside Festival

• When: Every October
• What: The seaside festival showcases community spirit and pride with a gala arts and crafts event. It features more than 125 crafters and vendors, live music, canoe races, fireworks displays, games, and fun.
• Where: Joshua Sears Memorial Field in South Yarmouth

Cape Cod National Seashore

The Cape Cod National Seashore was designated a national park in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. It hosts some of the best beaches in Cape Cod, including Marconi Beach, Nauset Beach, Race Point, and Herring Cove. It also offers hiking and biking trails with spectacular views and magical sunsets.

Whydah Pirate Museum

The Whydah Pirate Museum features one of the world's largest collections of authentic pirate artifacts recovered from a single shipwreck dating back to the 1700s. This museum, dedicated to the pirate ship the Whydah, allows a glimpse of life on the high seas of the 18th century.

Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum

The Pilgrim Monument commemorates the original landing of the Pilgrims in 1620 and is the first thing visitors to Provincetown see when they arrive by ferry. The museum offers an exploration of the maritime history of the time and early modern America, including an authentically re-created 19th-century captains' parlor.

Heritage Museums & Gardens

Heritage Museums & Gardens is a collection of treasured exhibits including historic vehicles, Cape Cod history, local art, and other topics of quirky and local interest. The gardens offer over 100 acres of shrubs, trees, flowers, water features, trails, and manicured green space to explore and engage your senses.

Cape Cod is a gateway to many beautiful local towns and villages. Each has a historic charm of its own, from quaint fishing towns to deeply historic locations ideal for couples on a romantic trip or families on a fun vacation.

Provincetown

Provincetown is a popular destination for the LGBTQ+ community but is also a family-friendly and ultramodern spot famed for its diversity and freedom of expression. It has a rich arts and cultural community, including the oldest continuous art colony in the nation. It's famed for its annual festivals from Carnival to Women's Week to First Light and beyond. The town features charming restaurants, art galleries, shops, historic sites, and lodgings. It's 60 miles offshore and can be easily reached by local ferry.

Barnstable

Barnstable is the county seat of Barnstable County and among the largest communities on Cape Cod, comprising several historic villages. Here you can visit many buildings that are hundreds of years old as well as walk sandy dunes and pine forests, and see clear country lakes. You can also while away the days on many harbor beaches. This town has been the home of many notable people from John F. Kennedy to Kurt Vonnegut, actor Neal McDonough, Hall of Fame baseball player Joe Cronin, and many others.

Eastham

Eastham is a small town in Barnstable County offering historic sites and is among the first spots on the continent where the Pilgrims landed from the Mayflower in 1620. You can see such important historic sites here as Nauset Light along the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Three Sisters Lighthouses, which have been moved from their original locations and now stand in a nearby field. You can also relax on scenic beaches. Eastham is known as the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Sandwich

The town of Sandwich is the oldest settlement on Cape Cod, being colonized in 1637, and today hosts many historic homes including the Benjamin Nye Homestead and Benjamin Holway House as well as the Hoxie House, which is among the oldest buildings in Massachusetts. It also hosts the oldest continuous Quaker meeting in the United States. It's the home of the Heritage Museums & Gardens as well as several marina and beach parks. For a quirkier attraction, check out the Sandwich Glass Museum.